Sefton Council staff members and Botanic Gardens Community Association members have been left disappointed as the plans were voted through

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Millions of pounds of cuts to Sefton Council’s budget were approved tonight as the axe fell across the borough’s services.

The cash-strapped authority gave the green light to £50m in cost-cutting proposals as councillors looked to plug a £55m gap in the budget over the next two years – with the remaining shortfall to be found later this year.

At Bootle Town Hall the budget recommendations were voted through by 41 for and 21 against the plans.

Sefton Council’s Labour leader, Peter Dowd, said in the chamber: “We have had some very difficult decisions to make over the past two years and we have tried to do the budget as fairly and as reasonably as we can given the circumstances.

“We have had to make £115m in savings over the last two years and have got another £55m to make in the next two years.

“Since Labour took control we have been in very difficult financial circumstances – but we have tried to be fair.

“We are dealing with what we have got now and how we can try and manage that as reasonably as we can.”

Some of the cuts that will be made include more than 188 jobs losses, an increase in car parking pay and display charges, a rise in the cost of burials and cremations, day centres being closed and play equipment not being replaced in parks.

Council tax bills will rise each year by 1.99% and the cost of school meals will also be increased.

The cash-strapped council will also save cash by stopping sand dune management and restoration, especially in Crosby and Hightown – and there will cease to be any lifeguards on Southport beach, with bathers instead encouraged to use Ainsdale.

Sefton’s libraries will also take a hit with reduced opening hours – alongside plans to save more cash by turning off street lighting and charging for public toilet use across the borough.

Botanic Gardens in Southport, which has drawn support from campaigners desperate to save the staff members and the nursery, were also left disappointed as the greenlight to axe the three full-time council employees who work with volunteers, and the plant shop was given.

The management of the aviary and fernery of the Churchtown green space will also now be contracted out.

The Lib Dem opposition fielded an amendment at the meeting that called for a reduction in cabinet members salaries, an increase in the savings hoping to be made in the senior staffing review, and the removal of Botanic Gardens as a means of saving cash.

They also asked for plans to increase car parking charges to be scrapped and for the removal of free parking in the resort to be dropped – stating that the proposals would damage Southport’s tourism and economy. The amendment was rejected by 40 votes against to 21 for.

Lib Dem leader, Iain Brodie Browne, said: “It is a kick in the teeth for Southport. It is outrageous they have not been prepared to make a very small investment to keep our tourism and retail industries alive.

“It is selfish of them, they could have easily conceded those amendments – but what they have done is rejected the volunteer support.

“We have to rethink whether Sefton is an appropriate vehicle for local government in Southport.”